A/N: I have recently become obsessed with Axel and Scarlett and how Missy Peregrym and Jonathan Scarfe have an amazing rapport and chemistry together. Their relationship has so much potential and - while I know they're not exactly popular - I just had to get these moments out of my brain. We start at 2x12 - Crooked Falls and will follow through season 3.

Chapter 1

They had arrived at Crooked Falls earlier that afternoon, after three miserable days walking around in the cold and killing goddamn ferrels. The people there seemed nice enough, but the altitude made Scarlett a little breathless and dizzy and all she wanted to do was to take a shower and sleep for a week.

As if that would ever happen, she thought with a humorless chuckle.

The brunette girl, Jessie, directed them to a room with several cots and Scarlett dropped on one of them as soon as the chick closed the door behind her, after announcing that she would come back later to get them for dinner.

"Let's just hope they're not roasting ferrels here too." Axel deadpanned and she rolled her eyes, a tired laugh escaping her lips. "Tired?" His tone softened when she leaned back against the head of the bed and closed her eyes.

"Exhausted." She opened her eyes again, only to be taken over by a yawn. "It's probably the altitude. I've never done too well this high up. It takes me a little while to get used to it."

"Do you think you need some oxygen? We can take them up on their offer." He suggested, but she shook her head, touched that he was this concerned.

It had been a while since anyone gave a shit about her and it was jarring to have that again. She didn't really know what to make of Axel just yet, but he was definitely a good guy. And she couldn't say she hated having him around at all.

"Nah, I'll be fine, Army man." She grinned at him and he rolled his eyes, grumbling a 'marine' under his breath. "Just need a nap."

Another yawn took over her body and she decided to get busy unbuckling all her weapons, before sleep pulled her under. She watched as he did the same with the couple of knives and the one gun he still had.

Once all her knives and swords were laying in a neat pile next to her bed, she took her boots off and allowed herself to collapse on the bed again, revelling in the comfort it provided. She didn't even remember when it was the last time she had actually slept in a bed.

"God, I hadn't realized how much I'd missed sleeping in an actual bed until right this second." She heard Axel groan from his side of the room and looked at him, smiling at the sight of his sprawled out body, boots still on.

"You might want to take off those boots first there, champ." She said dryly, making him look down at his feet.

"Damn it." He cursed under his breath and she shook her head amused, already pulling the covers over her body and getting comfortable. "Hey, Ninja," he called and she opened one eye, ready to glare at him. "How about we keep each other warm?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, but smiled when she saw the soft look in his eyes, even as he was trying to tease.

"I'm not moving from this bed, Army Man." She teased, turning her back to him and pulling the covers up to her shoulders.

She heard him taking off his boots and then his cautious footsteps to her side. The bed dipped under his weight and she felt his touch on her shoulder.

"May I?"

Fighting a smile, she scooted over as best as she could in the narrow bed. Not even half a minute later, his arm was firmly wrapped around her waist, his breath tickling the back of her neck. She felt him press a kiss to her skin and covered the hand that was resting on her stomach with hers, entwining her fingers through his.

"Do you think Vanessa is okay?" She asked quietly and heard him let out a heavy sigh. "We need to find her, Axel. I just found family again. I can't lose her."

"I promise you. We will find her, Scar." He kissed her neck again and she turned around in his arms, facing him. "But we gotta wait for Doc and Julius to get here with the key first. Right?"

"I know. I'm just worried." She sighed and tucked her face into the crook of his neck.

He pulled her in closer, tracing soft patterns on her arm.

"Sleep, Ninja." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and then her lips. "We can worry about saving the world in a couple of hours."

After making the rounds to make sure everyone was okay - especially Doc, who had just taken a bullet to protect the new girl - Axel found Scarlett in the bathroom, cleaning all that blood off with a towel.

Knocking on the door, he waited until she looked at him.

"How are you doing?" He asked quietly, finally stepping into the bathroom. "Feeling okay?"

He took the stained towel from her hands and washed the blood away in the sink, before wringing it out and gently rubbing it against her neck.

"I'm fine." She croaked out, her voice still sounding a little hoarse. She must have seen the look on his face, because she immediately added. "I promise."

"You had me worried for a second there." He said lightly, putting the towel away when her skin was finally blood free. "When I saw your hand on your neck…" He touched the exact spot the bullet had pierced her skin.

"Hey, I'm just fine, Axel." She covered his hand with hers and he let out a breath. It felt like his heart hadn't quite returned to its normal rhythm ever since he had seen her get shot in the neck. "It looks like Vanessa has made me pretty much as invincible as she is. Perks of being her twin."

She grinned and he shook his head, pulling her closer until he could wrap his arms around her waist and rest his forehead on hers. Closing his eyes, he breathed in and out for a moment. He wasn't entirely sure what it was about her, but she made him feel so much again and he didn't know what to do about that. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd felt like that about someone.

"I know you're a badass," he started, a small grin pulling the corner of his lips up, especially when she wrapped her arms around him, tucking herself into the crook of his neck. "But please, just...don't do this again. No more coughing up bullets."

She laughed lightly and pressed a kiss to his skin. "I'll try."

He felt her lips curl up in a smile against his skin, before she pressed another kiss to his racing pulse. Running his fingers through her hair, he gently guided her face to his until their lips met. Allowing himself to just get lost in this moment right here, just for a few seconds, he revelled in the warmth and sense of peace that being with her provided in this fucked up world.

She sighed against his lips and pulled away for a moment. "You gotta promise me you won't die on me either, you know?" She told him with a smile, an almost shy look in her eyes, so unlike the fearless warrior she usually was. "It's only fair."

"You're stuck with me, Ninja." He promised her and she chuckled, nodding, before sealing their promise with a kiss.

"Oh. I'm sorry." A voice came from the door and they pulled apart, startled. He turned, only to find Doc standing in the doorway, looking at them with a knowing grin and a touch of embarrassment. "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt you guys."

He shook his head, but tightened his hold on Scarlett when he felt her start to step away. Caressing her side, he pressed a kiss to her shoulder before letting her go.

"It's fine, Doc." Scarlett told her and he repeated the sentiment. "What's up?"

"Well, we were talking out there and we have a helicopter now." She started and Scarlett immediately nodded, her eyes lighting up with hope.

"We can go to Vanessa." She beamed excited and he let out a relieved sigh.

She was fine. Just fine. Her voice was back to normal and the wound had completely disappeared. She pulled on her swords harness, clipping it in the front around her chest, and turned to him, eyes sparkling. "Come on, Army Man. Let's go save my sister."

He took her outstretched hand and let her lead him out to join the others, but not before grumbling a "Marine!" under his breath.

Her laughter echoed through his heart.

A/N: Thoughts?